Story Highlights

He's not the biggest guy around – 5-10, 160 pounds – and has rarely been on the cover of a magazine. Firing from 200 yards and beyond at pins tucked behind bunkers doesn't enter his mind. He'll never be mistaken for one of those guys who hits the ball, in golf parlance, a country mile.

But with little flash – and a homegrown swing – Johnson has over the years forced all onlookers to take notice.

With his win in the year-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Johnson moved to No. 7 in the official world rankings. It was his 11th career win on the PGA Tour and third win in 11 starts – he captured the BMW Championship during the FedExCup and topped Tiger Woods down the stretch to win the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge – and his ninth top-10 during that time frame.

He goes for win No. 12 in this week's Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. He shot a 2-under 68 to sit in a tie for 24th after the first round, five strokes behind the leader, Sang-Moon Bae. Johnson, who won here in 2009, will try to join Ernie Els as the only players to win the Hawaii double in the same season.

Once referred to as a journeyman, Johnson and Woods are the only players under 40 who have more than 10 wins on the PGA Tour. Since the start of the 2007 season, only Woods and Phil Mickelson have more wins than Johnson. Since Johnson joined the Tour in 2004, only Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh have won more Tour events. And Johnson's a major champion, having held off Woods at the end to win the 2007 Masters.

"I never would have thought that. I don't have dreams of that caliber," Johnson, 37, told reporters after the Hyundai. "I don't dwell on that kind of thing. I just try to play and try to get better, because God knows I can get better at this game, too."

Perhaps he should re-calibrate dreams as he's joined the weekly conversation of tournament favorites. Johnson relies on precision over power and has a wedge game and putting stroke the envy of many. He's a man of faith, family and a team of supporters including his caddie, trainer and swing coach he would never consider trading. A key to his success is his year-end summits with his team, which helps him pinpoint an aspect of his game to emphasize in his off-the-course work.

"I have got a good system now," Johnson said. "We've got a good direction, good vision for the future, we've got a great plan for right now and I'm just staying in the moment, staying in the process. We've set great objective goals and drills and kind of things that I can kind of practice on that I know that transfers on the golf course.

" … I know this game at some point could beat me up again. So I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing. … It seems to me the best players in the world that I've watched, they don't play as much as I have in the past, but when they get to the golf course, they do the same exact thing, and that's what I'm trying to do. I'm going to try to keep doing what I'm doing."

Chip-ins: Reigning PGA Tour rookie of the year Jordan Spieth is making his Sony Open debut. He finished runner-up to Johnson in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and has three second-place finishes in his last seven starts. …

Eleven of the 13 members of the 2013-14 rookie class are in the field: Kevin Foley, Brice Garnett, Chesson Hadley, Bronson La'Cassie, Andrew Loupe, Peter Malnati, Wes Roach, Hudson Swafford, Kevin Tway, Will Wilcox and Tyrone Van Aswegen. The other two rookies are out due to injury – Patrick Cantlay (back) and Benjamin Alvarado (left knee). Last year, Russell Henley won the Sony Open in his rookie debut. …

Keep an eye on Charles Howell III. Last year's tie for third was his seventh top-5 finish in 12 starts in the Sony Open. Howell has three top-10 finishes through seven events in 2013-14. …

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew with a sore wrist. Ranked No. 23 in the world, Matsuyama finished in the top 19 in his three starts in major championships last year and became the first rookie to win the Japan Golf Tour money title. He won the Casio World Open in Japan in his last start. He was replaced in the field by Robert Streb. …